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LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE & TROPICAL MEDICINE
(University of London)
DEPARTMENT OF INFECTIOUS AND TROPICAL DISEASES
IMMUNOLOGY UNIT
Research Fellow – Pharmacokinetics
with Pharmidex Ltd., Harrow
1.
ADVERTISEMENT
Research Fellow - Pharmacokinetics
We are seeking to appoint a Research Fellow to work on a Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation funded project, joint with the University of Glasgow, to develop in vivo
imaging techniques to study drug efficacy, pharmacology and pathogenesis in human
African Trypanosomiasis.
The successful applicant will hold a PhD in pharmacology or other closely related
biological subjects or have experience in industry. Appropriate research experience
in infectious disease agents and models would be an advantage.
The post requires an individual with a meticulous approach to data recording, an
ability to manage their own workload and good team working skills. This post will be
based at the London School but will involve significant periods working with
Pharmidex Ltd. in Harrow.
This full time post is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a period of 2
½ years and is available from 1st June 2010. Salary is on the Academic Pathway
Grade 6 scale at £35,370 per annum (inclusive of London Weighting).
Applications should be made on-line via our website at jobs.lshtm.ac.uk. The closing
date is Thursday 6 May 2010 and the reference for this post is SC02. Online
applications will be accepted by the automated system until midnight of the closing
date. Any queries regarding the application process may be addressed to
[email protected] or via telephone number 0207 927 2201.
The supporting statement section should set out how your qualifications, experience
and training meet each of the selection criteria. Please provide one or more
paragraphs addressing each criterion. The supporting statement is an essential part
of the selection process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that
the application will not be considered. An answer to any of the criteria such as
“Please see attached CV” will not be considered acceptable.
Please note that if you are shortlisted and are unable to attend on the interview date
it may not be possible to offer you an alternative date.
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is committed to being an equal
opportunities employer
2.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is Britain's national school of
public health and a leading postgraduate institution worldwide for research and
postgraduate education in global health.
Part of the University of London, the London School is the largest institution of its
kind in Europe with a remarkable depth and breadth of expertise encompassing
many disciplines. The School was ranked one of the top 3 research institutions in the
country in the Times Higher Education’s 'table of excellence', which is based on the
2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), ahead of the London School of
Economics, Oxford, Imperial and University College, London. The institution also
achieved the largest increase in ranking compared with 2001, of any of the top 10
institutions in the RAE rankings. In 2009, the School became the first UK institution to
win the Gates Award for Global Health.
The School’s environment is a rich multicultural one: there are almost 4000 students
from 100+ countries following 22 taught masters courses delivered either in London
(~650) or through distance learning (~2700), and undertaking research degree
training (~400). Over 40% of these students are from non-European countries. The
largest growth has been in distance learning students (>40% over 3 years), though
the London-based student population (where accommodation limits growth) is at its
highest level ever. Alumni are working in more than 180 countries. The School has
about 1300 staff drawn from over 60 nationalities.
There are research collaborations with over 100 countries throughout the world,
utilizing our critical mass of multidisciplinary expertise which includes clinicians,
epidemiologists, statisticians, social scientists, molecular biologists and
immunologists. At any one time around 80 School staff are based overseas,
particularly in Africa and Asia. We have a strong commitment to partnership with
institutions in low and middle income countries to support the development of
teaching and research capacity.
The School has expanded greatly in recent years. Its research funding now exceeds
m£60 per annum, much of it from highly competitive national and international
sources. The commitment of staff to methodological rigour, innovative thinking and
policy relevance will ensure that the School continues to occupy a leadership position
in national and global health, adapting quickly to new challenges and opportunities.
Mission
The School's mission is to contribute to the improvement of health worldwide through
the pursuit of excellence in research, postgraduate teaching and advanced training in
national and international public health and tropical medicine, and through informing
policy and practice in these areas."
Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases
The Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases encompasses all of the
laboratory-based research in the School as well as that on the clinical and
epidemiological aspects of infectious and tropical diseases. It is headed by Simon
Croft, who is Professor of Parasitology. The range of disciplines represented in the
department is very broad and inter-disciplinary research is a feature of much of our
activity. The spectrum of diseases studied is wide and there are major research
groups with a focus on malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases, vaccine development and evaluation, and vector biology and
disease control. The Department is organised into four large research units
comprising: Pathogen Molecular Biology, Immunology, Disease Control and Vector
Biology, and Clinical Research. There is close interaction between scientists in
different research teams. The Department has strong overseas links, which provide a
basis for field studies and international collaborations in developed and developing
countries. The teaching programme includes MSc courses, taught in-house and by
distance learning, which are modular in structure, a variety of short-courses and an
active doctoral programme (PhD and DrPH).
Immunology Unit (Head: Professor Eleanor Riley)
Research in the Immunology Unit centres on analysis of the host response to
infection at the molecular, cellular and population levels. The goals are to develop a
greater understanding of basic mechanisms of immunological protection versus
pathology, and to apply this knowledge to the development of immunological
interventions and the identification of correlates of immune status. Our work involves
application of state-of-the-art cellular and molecular approaches to the in vitro
analysis of pathogen-host cell interactions, to in vivo studies in models and to the
study of immunity at the population level in disease endemic areas. Main areas of
research include the regulation of acute and chronic inflammation; macrophagepathogen interactions; cellular pharmacology; the production of cytokines during
innate and acquired immune responses; T-cell function and antigen recognition; the
mechanisms of immunopathology; the development of vaccines; and delivery
systems for vaccines and drugs.
Current research includes the role of acute phase proteins in resistance to infection,
homeostasis and inflammatory disease, mechanisms of macrophage activation,
control of cytokine synthesis and mammalian lectin interactions (J. Raynes);
intracellular trafficking and secretory pathways of cells of the immune system (T.
Ward); the role of innate responses in resistance to the bacterial pathogens,
Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Burkholderia pseudomallei, activity and regulation of
natural killer cells and their effect on macrophage activation and recruitment,
regulation of chemokine receptors during infection and granulomatous tissue
responses in the lung against Cryptococcus neoformans and Mycobacterium
tuberculosis (G. Bancroft); correlates of protection against tuberculosis and studies of
BCG vaccination, human CD8+ T-cell responses to mycobacterial antigens and
synthetic peptides, use of whole blood assays in immuno-epidemiology (H. Dockrell);
cytokine and chemokine responses to leprosy, cellular composition and effects of
steroids on skin and nerve lesions of reactional leprosy, identification of specific
peptides for immunodiagnosis of leprosy (S. Young); innate and adaptive immunity to
malaria including activation of natural killer cells, cytokine regulation in clinical
immunity and immunopathology, regulation of antibody production and
immunoglobulin class switching (E. Riley); transmission of Plasmodium falciparum
malaria including antibody responses to gametocyte-infected erythrocyte surface
antigens, effect of gamete antigen variability on transmission, gametocyte
sequestration and development and gametocyticidal drug therapy (C. Sutherland);
characterisation of protective immune mechanisms and defined antigens in
attenuated vaccine models of schistosomiasis (Q. Bickle); impact of concomitant
viral, bacterial, protozoal and helminth infections on induction of immune responses
and immunopathology and T cell regulation and induction of mucosal immune
responses during intestinal nematode infections (H. Helmby); the identification and
evaluation of novel drugs and drug delivery systems for leishmaniasis,
trypanosomiasis and malaria, interaction between antiprotozoal drugs and the
immune response (L. Vivas, V. Yardley)
Pathogen Molecular Biology Unit (Head: Professor Brendan Wren)
Research in the PMB Unit focuses on the molecular biology and genetics of
pathogens and their hosts in the context of improving the understanding and control
of infectious diseases. Aspects of pathogen biology of interest include: (i) determining
the mechanisms of infection of globally important viral, bacterial and parasitic
pathogens; (ii) deciphering the genetic diversity of selected disease agents in natural
populations and to determine its epidemiological impact, (iii) studying immune
evasion mechanisms of particular disease agents, (iv) exploiting parasitic, bacterial
and viral pathogens as model biological systems and (v) developing practical
applications including improved diagnostic tests and the identification and
characterisation of vaccine candidates and drug targets.
PMBU currently has funding to investigate, amongst others, the malaria parasite
(Plasmodium spp), Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi), African sleeping sickness
(Trypanosoma brucei), amoebic dysentery (Entamoeba), the Leishmania species,
bacterial food borne pathogens (Campylobacter jejuni and Yersinia enterocolitica),
gastric ulcers/cancer (Helicobacter pylori), pseudomembranous colitis (Clostridium
difficile), plague (Yersinia pestis), paddy field melioidosis (Burkholderia
pseudomallei), Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), Pneumonia
(Streptococcus pneumoniae), Bluetongue viral disease of livestock, Herpesviridae,
SARS, the hemorrhagic fever virus (RVFV) and the enteric rotavirus that cause
significant diarrhoeal disease in infants developing countries.
The long-term aim of PMBU research is to gain a fully rounded understanding of the
complex and dynamic ways by which pathogens modulate virulence and interact with
the human host. Such a holistic approach will vastly increase the scope for the
rational of design of long-term intervention strategies to reduce the burden of
infectious disease. In recent years such a mission has been significantly enhanced
by the availability of whole genome sequences. Members of the Unit are, or have
been, involved in several pathogen genome projects including Herpes,
Campylobacter jejuni, Yersinia pestis, Clostridium difficile, Entamoeba and
Trypanosome species. In particular, post genome studies have facilitated research
on more complex parasites such as Plasmodium, Entamoeba and Trypanosome
species. The interpretation and exploitation of this basic information is the platform
for numerous new avenues of research on pathogenesis, epidemiology and the
evolution of virulence.
Clinical Research Unit (Head: Dr Alison Grant)
The Clinical Research Unit addresses infectious diseases of major public health
importance in developing countries. Activities include trials of new therapies,
vaccines and educational interventions; the development of new diagnostic tests;
studies to elucidate the immunological and molecular correlates of pathogenesis and
protective immunity, and to identify genetic polymorphisms conferring protection or
susceptibility to infectious diseases; health services research which aims to identify
the most efficient and cost-effective way to deliver health care; and health policy
analysis. In addition to our many overseas collaborations, we have close links with
the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, in new, purpose-built accommodation on the main
UCL Hospital campus, five minutes walk from the School. The Wellcome Trust
Bloomsbury Centre for Clinical Tropical Medicine is based in the Unit, and currently
supports five Clinical Training Fellows and two Career Development Fellows, most of
whom are based overseas.
Much of the Unit's research concerns HIV and related infections; in particular, the
interaction between HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases, and
between HIV infection and tuberculosis. We have longstanding and fruitful
collaborations addressing these issues in Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda and South
Africa. Brian Greenwood FRS is leading an initiative to strengthen malaria research
in the School through new collaborative links in Africa. Research and teaching on
blinding diseases in developing countries has been greatly strengthened by the
recruitment of Allen Foster, who is Medical Director of CBM International, an NGO
with programmes for the prevention of blindness and disability in over 100 countries;
our research on trachoma has played an important part in framing the strategies
adopted by the WHO and the new International Trachoma Initiative for the elimination
of blinding trachoma by the year 2020.
Disease Control and Vector Biology Unit (Head: Professor Daniel
Chandramohan)
This multidisciplinary Unit includes epidemiologists, entomologists, anthropologists
and social scientists, clinical scientists, public health engineers, and geographers.
This range of expertise provides us with a battery of tools for focusing on the control
of diseases that are insect-borne, water-borne or associated with poor hygiene –
mostly in developing countries. Much of the research can be categorised as:
evaluating disease control interventions; investigating implementation strategies including working with the private sector; understanding the factors underlying
household behaviour in relation to family health; or determining how control
resources can be targeted most efficiently. Particular attention is paid to research
directed at current health policy issues, including the gap between policy and
practice. The DFID Resource Centre for Water and Environmental Health (WELL)
and the Hygiene Centre make up the Unit's Environmental Health Group, which plays
a leadership role in research and operational support for hygiene promotion, water
supply and sanitation. The Unit also houses the largest research group in LSHTM
working on malaria control, including the DIFD Team for Applied Research to
Generate Effective Tools and Strategies for communicable disease control
(TARGETs) and many staff in the Gates Malaria Partnership. The Unit’s valuable
mosquito colonies are used for testing repellent products and insecticides in the
laboratory. The Unit also includes a major grouping of researchers using spatial
analysis in public health.
Teaching
The School offers 22 one year full-time taught courses leading to the Master of
Science (MSc) degree of the University of London and the Diploma of the London
School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (DLSHTM). The Department of Infectious
and Tropical Diseases runs or contributes substantially to ten of these courses and
the “Immunology of Infectious Diseases” course is run from within the Immunology
Unit. In addition, the Department is responsible for the three-month Diploma in
Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H) and offers a range of specialist short
courses lasting usually one or two weeks. Three MSc courses are also offered by
Distance-based Learning, including one on Infectious Diseases.
Research Training
The School offers two doctoral training programmes. The MPhil/PhD degrees are
designed for those who wish to go on to a full time research career. The DrPH is
directed towards those who expect their careers to be more in the practice of public
health.
Research Management and Teaching Training
The School offers an extensive staff training programme which the appointee will be
encouraged to use.
Project information
Human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, is a disease of the
world’s poorest populations in sub-Saharan Africa where 60 million people, in 36
countries, are at risk. In order to treat late-stage African trypanosomiasis, when
trypanosomes have penetrated the brain and other organs, drugs must cross
barriers, including the blood brain barrier, in levels sufficient to kill parasites. In this
project, we propose to develop new models to monitor drug activity using in vivo
imaging systems and to determine pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic
properties of trypanocidal molecules in the CNS. The ultimate aim is to provide
models to expedite screening of new chemicals against late-stage African
trypanosomiasis. The project is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is
a collaborative venture between Glasgow University and the LSHTM.
The goal of this postdoctoral position is to develop pharmacokinetic and
pharmacodynamic methods to determine the distribution and levels of antitrypanosomal drugs in the CNS of experimental model systems of Trypanosoma b.
brucei and T. b. gambiense, and to relate this information to parasite distribution
(based upon imaging) and parasite drug sensitivity.
The appointee will have a lead role in developing the model. She or he will be based
at LSHTM and will be working on the project in partnership with Pharmidex
(Northwick Park, London) where the appointee will also be involved in extensive
studies. They will also interact with other members of the team involved in imaging
parasite distribution and CNS changes both at LSHTM and the University of
Glasgow.
Pharmidex
Pharmidex delivers world-leading CNS and ADMET solutions to support preclinical
drug discovery and development in CNS and other disease areas. The company’s
drug-discovery and development solutions fall into three key areas: CNS drugdiscovery and delivery solutions; ADMET, PK and bioanalytical solutions; and
collaboration and consultancy.
Pharmidex is unique in its focus on central nervous system (CNS) drug-discovery
and development services, and has world-leading expertise and technologies in this
field. It is the only company in the world offering direct assessment of brain
penetrability and free concentration of compounds in extracellular fluid (NeuroPK®
and NeuroPD™) as a service to CNS R&D departments. This is achieved through
the company’s innovative screens and patented technologies and underpinned by
the ability to integrate neuroscience, DMPK and CNS drug discovery expertise.
Today the company has diversified to provide a wider range of platform technologies,
including in vitro and in vivo absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion
(ADME), pharmacokinetics, bioanalysis, safety pharmacology, in vitro pharmacology,
and efficacy and safety studies.
The knowledge and experience of the staff at Pharmidex, combined with its costeffective platform technologies and high-quality data, can help to move drugdevelopment programs quickly and cost-effectively through preclinical development.
This can be through collaborations, under a shared risk–shared reward model or on a
consultancy basis.
Pharmidex has successfully participated in European projects: FP6 (InnoMEd –
Innovative Medicines for Europe, Project number LSHB-CT-2005-518170, an
integrated life project with 43 partners across Europe for identification of Biomarkers
for Alzheimer disease) and FP7. Pharmidex has also been successful in winning the
“Service company of the year” award in 2005 from UK Trade and Investment for
exquisite delivery of high tech solutions to pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies globally as well as being nominated for the “best new exporter”
international business award in same year.
Objectives of this project:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
To develop methodologies to determine the distribution and levels of antitrypanosomal drugs in the CNS during infection
To develop improved models to measure pharmacodynamic
characteristics of anti-trypanosomal drugs
To relate the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data to that derived
by the imaging team and pathogenesis teams to develop a predictive
model
3.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Post:
Research Fellow - Pharmacokinetics
Grade:
Academic Pathway Grade 6
Responsible to:
Prof Simon Croft (LSHTM) and Dr Mo Alajeveh (Pharmidex)
(Workpackage Leaders)
Unit:
Immunology / Pharmidex Ltd.
Start date:
approx. 1st June 2010
Main duties and responsibilities:

in partnership with the lead investigators, carry out original research in
pharmacology of anti-trypanosomal drugs in line with the project
objectives, including the development of a new predictive model for
future drug development projects. This will require expertise in
pharmacokinetics and an ability to learn imaging technologies and
understand infectious disease pathogenesis;

collate and analyse research data and prepare it for monthly reports,
regular presentation to partners and publication;

author sections of annual reports and publications, input to web site;

lead and manage the day-to-day running of the designated section of the
research project, provide the close liaison between LSHTM and
Pharmidex, and contribute to other appropriate research activities as
they arise;

attend and contribute to weekly laboratory meetings, journal clubs, unit
seminars, conferences and other academic gatherings;

contribute to the School’s MSc and Departmental teaching programmes
through participation in lectures, practical classes, student supervision or
tutorials, as directed. This to involve up to 10% of your time per annum,
subject to the policy of any funding agency (by agreement, some staff
may make a greater contribution than this);

any other duties as assigned by the lead investigators, Unit Head and
Head of Department.
4.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The following are essential:

A PhD and/or proven experience in industry, in a pharmacology or related
biomedical area, with experience in infectious diseases being an advantage

Proven experience in pharmacokinetic techniques and methodologies

Experience of working with in vivo models

An excellent and meticulous approach to recording of data, protocols and daily
activities

Ability to manage a research project

Ability to work as part of a team

A flexible approach to working hours

Advanced computer literacy

Excellent communication skills and an ability to develop those skills in a
multicultural environment
The following would be desirable:

Experience in culture of pathogenic microorganisms

Experience in imaging methodologies

UK Home Office License for studies involving rodents

Peer-reviewed publications
5.
SALARY AND CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT
The full time post is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a period of 2½
years and is available from 1st June 2010. Salary is on the Academic Pathway
Salary scale Grade 6 at £35,370 per annum (inclusive of London Weighting). Annual
leave entitlement is 30 working days per year for all staff (pro-rata for part-time staff).
In addition to this there are 6 fixed-date "Director's Days".
The post will be subject to the LSHTM terms and conditions of service. Membership
of the USS pension scheme is available. The School's retirement date is 30
September following the 65th birthday. It is the School's policy not to appoint
candidates aged 65 or over.
The successful candidate, as appropriate, would be able to register for a PhD at the
School part-time.
A pension scheme and interest free season ticket loan are available. The School is
conveniently situated for public transport (Goodge Street, Russell Square, Euston
Square and Tottenham Court Road tube stations nearby). The School has a
restaurant, bar and common room. The School has a no smoking policy and an
Equal Opportunities Policy.
6.
APPLICATIONS
Applications for this post should be made online at our website
http://jobs.lshtm.ac.uk. The reference for this post is SC02. Online applications will be
accepted by the automated system until midnight of the closing date.
In the online system, applicants should complete all sections. The supporting
statement section should set out how your qualifications, experience and training
meet each of the selection criteria. Please provide one or more paragraphs
addressing each criterion. The supporting statement is an essential part of the
selection process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the
application will not be considered. An answer to any of the criteria such as “Please
see attached CV” will not be considered acceptable. Applications should also include
a curriculum vitae, a covering letter and the names and email addresses of two
professional referees who may be approached immediately, one of whom should be
a recent employer or academic supervisor.
Any queries regarding the application process may be addressed to
[email protected] or telephone 020 7927 2201, quoting the job reference number
SC02.
Closing date for receipt of applications in Thursday 6 May 2010
Interviews will be held in week commencing 17 May 2010.
Please note that if you are shortlisted and are unable to attend on the interview date
it may not be possible to offer you an alternative date.
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is committed to being an equal
opportunities employer